After a string of action projects, actor and former Oriental Mindoro vice governor Ejay Falcon is taking a dramatic turn in the advocacy film Behind the Smile, a project that aims to raise awareness about HIV and educate audiences on prevention, compassion, and understanding.
In the film, Falcon plays Jeric, a husband who contracts HIV from his wife, Mia, portrayed by Jennica Garcia. The actor admitted he initially thought he was only being offered a special participation role. However, as development progressed, his character became an integral part of the story.
Beyond the emotional narrative, Falcon said the film’s advocacy message immediately caught his attention.
“Nung sinabi niya sa akin tungkol sa HIV, biglang ‘Wow,’ sabi ko, napapanahon,” he recalled. “And bilang isang artista, hindi naman kasi tayo basta-basta gumagawa ng parang basta may trabaho lang. Hindi kasi ako ganun. Basta kumita lang ng pera, kahit saan puwede ka nang isalpak. Nung sinabi niya sa akin yung role, yung character, yung story, nagustuhan ko agad.”
Directed and written by fellow Mindoreño Lawrence Roxas for Gilbert Obispo Films, Behind the Smile was inspired by the rising number of HIV cases in Oriental Mindoro, particularly in Calapan City.
“Na-inspire po ako dito kasi sa lumalaganap na cases dito sa Pilipinas,” Roxas said.
“At sa MIMAROPA, ang Calapan po, ang Oriental Mindoro ang pinakamaraming cases ng HIV. So that is why, nung inilapit namin ito sa mga producers and investors, parang hindi na sila nagdalawang-isip na gawin ito.”
The filmmaker stressed that the primary goal of the project is education and prevention.
“Talagang maipakita kung paano i-prevent kasi talagang awareness nga ito.”
At the center of the story is Elijah, a brilliant and hardworking student secretly living with HIV. Despite his condition, he continues striving for a better future while helping support his younger sister. Along the way, he befriends Nikki, an academically gifted student struggling with overwhelming pressure and anxiety, and Mia, a woman living with HIV who was abandoned by her husband after losing their child to the disease.
Together, the three characters navigate grief, stigma, healing, and hope, discovering that their struggles do not define them.
For Falcon, one of the most fulfilling aspects of the project was bringing the production to his home province.
“Very proud po ako na ang director namin, si Direk Lawrence, taga-Oriental Mindoro. At ang producer po namin, taga-Oriental Mindoro din. At yung pelikula po ay ginawa sa aming probinsiya.”
He added that local residents rarely get the opportunity to witness a film production firsthand.
“Ang sarap ng feeling habang nagsu-shooting kami, ang mga tao dumadaan, tinatawag ako. So, hindi ako politiko, as an artista. So nakikita nila kung pa’no ginagawa yung shooting, papa’no yung mga ilaw, papa’no yung anggulo ng kamera, papa’no umarte yung artista.”
Falcon also emphasized the importance of educating young people about the consequences of their choices and the value of making informed decisions.
“Excited ako sa mga ganitong pelikula kasi dito natin pwedeng ipakita sa ating mga audience, especially sa mga kabataan, na sana bago nila ginagawa ang isang bagay, eh, pinag-iisipang mabuti, pinag-aaralan mabuti kung ano ang magiging epekto nito sa kanilang buhay at sa kanilang kinabukasan.”
Joining Falcon and Garcia in the film are BJ Forbes, Mike Lloren, and Binibining Silka titleholder Dana Alexa Cada, who makes her film debut.
Behind the Smile is scheduled to hold premiere screenings in Manila and Oriental Mindoro in July in time for National HIV Prevention Month. According to Roxas, discussions are already underway for a possible sequel and potential streaming distribution, including a possible release on Netflix.
